Thousands of motorists could be unwittingly driving around without valid car insurance, police have warned after identifying a worrying new scam known as 'ghost broking'.

With premiums soaring, fraudsters have been taking advantage of car owners' desperation to find the best deal.

Using popular social media sites, such as Facebook and Instagram, they pose as legitimate brokers working for reputable insurance firms, and contact motorists directly, offering to save them hundreds of pounds on their renewal.

But the policy documents they produce are worthless and many victims only becoming aware they have been duped, when they have an accident and attempt to make a claim.

To their horror they then discover they are liable for the entire cost of the accident, which can run into many thousands of pounds.